Northland news in briefs, road crash victims named

Police have named the father and son who died in a crash, above, on Port Marsden Highway on Friday

Police have named a Northland father and son who died in a double fatality.
Porsche Nepia, 31, and Tyrhys Hita, 11, both from Ruakaka, lost their lives after the car they were in lost control at the intersection of Port Marsden Highway and Marsden Bay Dr about 12pm on Friday.

The police Serious Crash Unit is investigating the collision.

Votes drip in for Far North byelection

Fewer than one in six voters in the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa byelection have so far cast their votes with less than a week to go until polls close. The Far North District Council byelection was called after councillor Willow-Jean Prime was elected to Parliament and is being contested by Harko Brown, David Clendon, Peter Gill and Kelly Stratford.

Election Services, which is conducting the byelection, said it had received 3182 votes by Friday, less than 16 per cent of the 20,364 eligible voters in the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Ward. Voting in the postal ballot closes at noon on February 17.

Voters can also drop their papers off at the council service centre in the John Butler Centre until closing time on Friday, or on Saturday until noon at the Procter Library. If you think you are eligible to vote but haven't received a voting pack, phone the Electoral Office on 0800 922 822.

Police name Maunu Hill crash driver

The 24-year-old man killed in a crash on Maunu Hill has been named. Corey Jayden Eteveneaux died when the car he was driving crashed on February 5. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition but died four days later.

Community grant applications open

Round two of the 2017/18 Community Fund is now open for applications from not-for-profit groups. The grant is for projects and events such as festivals, community celebrations, workshops and working bees. The maximum grant is $10,000 and the average is $2500.

Application forms are available on the Whangarei District Council website or from the customer service counters at Forum North and Ruakaka. Applications close on March 23.

Blood service welcomes donors

The NZ Blood Service is in the Far North this week hoping to get plenty of precious blood for the region's hospitals and health services.

Donors will be welcomed, and rewarded with tea and biscuits, at the Kaitaia RSA today from 10.30am-4.30pm, at the Turner Centre in Kerikeri tomorrow and Thursday from 9am-3pm, and at the Kaikohe War Memorial Hall on Friday from 8.30am-1.30pm.

Those who give blood will need their donor card or photo ID, and debutants will be especially welcome.